MANILA -- Election Chairman George Garcia said there is nothing they could do legally to stop political candidates from conducting "social services," despite the ongoing campaign period for Senatorial candidates.

Garcia conceded there is a legal loophole that allows candidates to give away "ayuda" or aid, even though the three-month campaign period has begun on February 11.

"Ang problema sa batas natin sa March 28 pa magsisimula sa prohibition sa mga social services. 'Yun ang loophole ng batas. Nagkakapanya na tayo sa national pero ang prohibition sa social services ay papasok pa lang sa March 28," he said in an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo.

"Mukhang taliwas pero wala pong magagawa ang Comelec sapagkat iyan po ang batas at sa aming katungkulan ay magpatupad lamang ng batas."

This is why he encourages reforms in election rules as some of the laws they have been enforcing are already outdated.

"Saan ka naman nakakita 2025 na tapos ang ipinapatupad mong batas ay Ominus Election Code ng 1985?" said Garcia. "Papaanong makakapagpatupad kami ng epektibo gayung wala pang vote buying noon sa pamamagitan ng Gcash, Paymaya at iba pang platform?" 

"Kakailangan pong may pagbabago sa batas... hindi naman tayo Kongreso. Kung gagawin namin 'yan ay maakusahan naman kami ng ursupation ng kapangyarihan ng ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan."

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